Murder mystery set during the Great Fire, which is a great idea. No idea if it works because approximately chapter 3 there is an on page rape of the vMurder mystery set during the Great Fire, which is a great idea. No idea if it works because approximately chapter 3 there is an on page rape of the viewpoint character (unwarned for, obv), and I have a shelf called "men explain it sucks to be women" for a reason. DNF at however percent it was. ...more
Absolutely outstanding, possibly the best biography I've ever read.
This has a huge amount of erudition: there's limited existing information about DoAbsolutely outstanding, possibly the best biography I've ever read.
This has a huge amount of erudition: there's limited existing information about Donne's life, but tons of cultural and historical context. The analysis of the poems and writing is woven in throughout and really well explained. The author is clearly a huge Donne fan but not obsessively (I had to laugh when the recommended reading section concludes with a warning not to go near a notoriously unreadable polemic of his), and has a clear eye to his obvious and many personality defects while also bringing across what was clearly incredible personal charm.
And it is so *readable*. Here I am sure Rundell's background as a children's novelist kicks in, because the tone is perfectly judged: never dry even while conveying a huge amount of info, constantly engaging, often funny. It feels like having a really interesting person talk to you about something they find really interesting. Even the image choices are terrific. (A guy Donne worked with was known to a friend of his as 'Camel Face'. Some biographers would mark that as totally irrelevant to the matter at hand; Rundell makes sure we get a picture. Wow, the guy looked like a camel.)
That rare thing: a bio that both humanises the subject and makes his whole era feel accessible--not modern, but nevertheless containing people fundamentally like us. and never loses sight of the magic of Donne's writing. A triumph. ...more
you know, people are always on at romance for being formulaic, but I could pick out a surprising number of highbrow historical English-set novels withyou know, people are always on at romance for being formulaic, but I could pick out a surprising number of highbrow historical English-set novels with a fantastical twist that have snakey images on the cover. Just saying.
The premise of this (English Civil War, witch-finding, possession) is fab but it never really took flight for me. I felt like it couldn't pick a genre: there's a lot of elements reminiscent of Hammer movies but it never leans in to being horror/scary; we set up a lot of great conflicts regarding the operation of the law and the MC's position trying to get out of being a soldier but they never really come to a head; there's bits about strange gods that *also* don't come to a head; and there's a lot of research-heavy historical scene-setting which slows the pace considerably. I just felt everything needed turning up a few notches. On the other hand, if you like understated, this is for you.
If I'm honest, it lost me at the 'that John Milton will never amount to anything!' gag (not in those words) which authors of historical fiction really do need to retire.
Mph. If you want a leisurely period-detail-heavy book with plenty of atmosphere, there's a lot to like here, but it didn't compel me. Hey ho. ...more
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